BEST hunting rig for $1K (use ALL the money!!))

[Steve Smith]

Use up all (or most all) of the $1K. Build the best hunting rig you can.


Later I will start threads for other money levels...focus on this one now.

 

[Correia]

Steve...Uhm...What exactly are we hunting? My answer for moose is going to be a bit different than tree rat.

 

[Steve Smith]

Hmm...good point. This isn't fo MY use per se, but for a fun topic. Let's say it's for North American large game...Whitetail to Moose. Non-dangerous.

 

[goalie]

I got my Remington 700 in .375 H&H and a 3-9 Leupold Vari-X III scope for a little less than that. I can hunt anything on the planet with it if I load the right bullets, so if the "dream hunt of a lifetime" in Africa or Alaska etc... just happened to fall in my lap, I would not need to buy a rifle in order to go. Recoil in the .375 H&H is also less than many of the modern, trendy "short-magnum" rounds available today due to the large case capacity's ability to use different powders.

 

[nico]

not to jack the thread, but from what i've heard, you wouldn't want to use a 700 for dangerous game hunting in Africa. The push feed bolt is supposedly a big no no for that type of stuff.

 

[Steve Smith]

Goalie, please give specifics on what you bought, and for how much. Thanks!

 

[goalie]

I got a Remington 700 Classic (each year they do a different caliber in the 700 model and sell it with a wood stock as the "classic") for a little under 500 dollars. I think the year was 1995 or so. I then put a Bell and Carlson synthetic stock on it for another hundred bucks. Topped it off with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9 scope on a one-piece base for about 385 dollars. To be honest, the scope may be a bit more nowdays, but a Vari-X II scope is just as good for hunting once it is zero'd, I just REALLY prefer the positive clicks on the knobs of the Vari-X 3.

As for dangerous game, I am not too worried about using the 700. If I am in Africa legally hunting anything dangerous, I will have a PH there with me. It is HIS rifle that I want to be controlled round feed, as I will likely only be taking the 1st (and hopefully only) shot. Plus, lots of guys in the old days hunted critters that kill with black-powder smoke poles. I am not such a wuss that something like push-feed would stop me from hunting something. Then again, I am the kind of person that used to rock climb everything from Devil's Tower to the stuff in Yosemite for fun, so take it FWIW.

Edit: this is the .375 H&H I would buy today. MSRP is quite a bit more than you can find it for. It even get the approval of those who hunt critters that kill for a living.

http://www.cz-usa.com/product.detail.php?id=23

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Assuming you'd want to hunt elk and moose along w/ whitetail:

Remington Sendero in 300 Win Mag $759 http://www.laurelsportshop.com/item41403.ctlg

Weaver Grand Slam 3-10x40 $250
http://www.riflescopes.com/store/departments.asp?dept=253

I'd have to shop around a little since scope rings and trigger job will put it over $1000

 

[dakotasin]

rem m7 in 7 shamu.
leupold 3-9x vx-2.
talleys.

 

[Preacherman]

Also under discussion in this thread.

 

[schromf]

Optics

For my money I want the best optics I can get. I hate fogged up or easily knocked out of alignment scopes. I also want it the most light gathering I can get. I disagree a lot on some recommendations on scopes above, for big game hunting you will probably never use a 9-12X on your scope. Those scopes are fine on varmit rifles they just don't get used in big game hunts.

My ideal scope is either a straight 4 power or a variable with 1.5x6. Anything above 4x it becomes almost impossible to make quick or running shots. Leupold, Ziess, Swarovski and Schmidt and Bender are all quality glass. I also like a slightly long eye relief. I have only one rifle with a higher powered scope nowdays, and it is a long range shooter. I have replaced all of the higher powered scopes with lower powers. It took me many years and a lot of hunts to figure this out. A 6x scope in dark timber is right on the edge of too much, you are compensating for the scope, 2-3X is much better. Don't expect this less power to save you much on money a straight leupold 4X is about $220, a 1.75x6Ex32mm long eye relief is around $450.00, for the others listed above expect to pay more a Ziess 1.25x4x24 is around $600.

My choice of rifles I will limit to new guns there are a lot of older rifles I like, but that will complicate this a lot.

1. Sako 75 Hunter, don't buy a magnum or your $ went immediatly close or to your 1K mark, but a 30-06, 7mm-08, 270 Win, 308 are all good calibers. I saw a new in box 75 hunter 30-06 for $799.00 on Gunsamerica. This with with a 4x Leupold above is right on your 1K, don't need rings as they come with quality set, you should be at around $1020.00. With the 30-06 and the right loads it is more than adequate for North American Hunting, granted a little light for big brown bears in close, and a little heavy on a small whitetail, but a little creativity with reloading can remedy all that, the bullet selection in 30 is the best what are we talking 110grs to 220grs that with the accuaracy of the Sako, one word SWEET.
2. If insist on a second choice I would consider a CZ or a Tikka. But only because I am sarificing quality for price.

Just cause I like them so much : http://www.sako.fi/sako75_hunter.html

I also would not discount the 9.3 X 62 cartridge if I was really looking at bears and moose all the time, and never saw a whitetail ( I lived in Alaska for 5 Yrs ) this would be a definate serious contender.

 

[Soap]

Winchester Sporter LT in '06: $590
Leupold VX-II 3-9x40mm or 2-7x33mm: $280
Leupold STD 1" rings: $25
Leupold STD 2 pc. base: $20
Turner National Match sling" $50

Total w/ 6% tax: $1022.90

 

[Steve Smith]

Preacherman, not really. On the other thread, the guy had a ceiling of $1K but everyone was offering $400 options. This thread has a purpose, just as the upcoming two will.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

The 3-9 power scopes are close to the same price as the fixed power scopes these days. I've been happy with my Leupold VX-2 in 3-9x40. In the STORE, the Weaver Grand Slam seemed to be brighter (hence the recommendation above - it's the next high power scope I'll buy), but I thought my first good scope should be a Leupold.

When hunting, I keep the variable scope at 4x, but for little or no extra money, I have the option of turning it up to 9x for glassing at long distances if I do not have my binoculars for whatever reason. I always turn back down to 4x for actual stalking or shooting.

Do you get a brighter or more clear picture with a fixed power scope? I see the Weaver Grand Slam comes in 4.75x40 for $30 less.

 

[mtnbkr]

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight chambered in 6.5x55: $680
Leupold VX-1 2-7x33: $180
Leupold Mounts/Rings: $45
Uncle Mikes Sling Swivels: $12
Triple K Military Sling: $16
Total: $933

There's enough money left for either a few boxes of factory ammo or the dies and components necessary to reload (assuming you already have a press, scales, etc).

That's my rig. I set it up to be an easy carrying rifle for hunting in the woods of the eastern US. It is easy on the shoulder too, which is nice because I enjoy shooting it and do so often. This was the first gun I purchased with the the idea that my daughter would eventually possess it.

Chris

 

[Publicola]

Again, I hope this won't reveal any prejudice on my part. lol

CMP Garand - Danish Rack Grade - $370 shipped

Smith Enterprise Standard Match #1 package - $575

Turner Saddlery M1907 sling - $50

Scott Duff 2/5 round reversible clips - $5

Totals to $1000

Or

CMP Garand - Danish Service Grade - $420 shipped

Smith Enterprise Standard Match #1 package - $575

Scott Duff 2/5 round reversible clip - $5

Totals to $1000

& the standard disclaimer is that most any rack grade Garands that will shoot 3 to 4 MOA from the bench will be perfectly adequate w/o modifications for most North American hunting. But since the goal is to spend close to a garand - I mean grand, the additions won't hurt.

 

[Hemicuda]

For that money, I built a German "KAR" Mauser Mod. 98, W/ a custom Star barrel, in .35 Whelan, W/ a used Swarovski scope (From Jay's Sporting Goods, Clare, MI) A Timney Trigger, a Buehler safety, and a custom Tung-oiled Fajen stock W/ 22LPI checkering (bought "in the rough") and an older Williams 1 piece scope mount...

ALL the work was done by me, and total cost was almost PERFECTLY $1K

it is a POSITIVE FEED/POSITIVE extraction custom rifle, in a SWEET caliber, and within your budget...

That is my choice!

 

[kimbernut]

Best $1K Hunting Rifle

Ruger M77II in .308 Win. (integral bases) $450
Rings included(will have to swap out to hi rings with Ruger)
Leupold Vari-XIII 3.5-10x50mm HeavyDuplex reticle $430
Browning Rust Brown Horsehair Sling $50
Amber-tinted Butler Creek Scope caps $20
Quake Hush Stalker II Sling Swivels $10
Acra-Glas Gel Bedding Kit $20
Misc., Shipping, and handling $20
_______
$1000

 

[nico]

how come everybody keeps talking about regular slings that cost more than $20. I don't know enough about rifles to make a complete suggestion, but I got a nylon "super sling" from outdoorworld that came with the quake hush sling swivels for $10. Why would anything short of a military sling be worth any more?

 

[WhiteKnight]

I then put a Bell and Carlson synthetic stock on it for another hundred bucks.

Was this done because you like the B and C style more? Or a more techincal reason?

 

[goalie]

I put the B&C stock on it because my 700 Classic came with a beautiful piece of wood on it. I didn't want to trash that stock, and I don't think a .375H&H is for sitting in a safe looking pretty, so I went with a beater stock that I don't have to baby. FWIW, if you are "recoil sensitive" I wouldn't recommend a lightweight synthetic stock on a .375H&H when shooting hot 300 grain solids, wood dampens the recoil a little, where the synthetic stock just seems to send it all to your shoulder.

 

[Fatelvis]

Rem 700 Mountain rifle in 30-06, with a Leupold VX11 3-9 and Leupold bases/rings. An almost "do-it-all" rifle!

 

[kimbernut]

Higher than $20Slings

Nico ,
I didn't realize everyone was talking about them, but I own four hunting rifles(.243 Win.Ruger M77RL Walnut stock,.270 Win.Ruger M77 Mk.II SS in a Fajen Lam. Stock,7mm-08Rem. Remington Mod7 LLS,.30-06 Spgfd. Win. Mod 70 walnut stockand I like the Browning Horsehair slings so much that each one has its own . Each one also carries a pair of Butler Creek Amber scope capswhich many people feel are worthless but have saved several hunts for me.(By the way each sling is color co-ordinated to the stock) And each one shoots 1 MOA or better. To each his (or her) own.
Only my military rifles carry military slings. Good shootin' , Bud.

 

[Wryfox]

Tikka T3, Zeiss 3-9x42...under $1000 total, best deal on the planet.